When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Our weekly feature kicks-off with a look at the talking points after East Kilbride started the season with back-to-back league wins, disposing of Dalbeattie Star 2-0 and Vale of Leithen 3-0 in defence of their Lowland League crown.

Keeper change is massive

The arrival of Alan Martin to K-Park is the signing of the summer for EK.

While Darren O’Dea may be the big name capture over the close season, the new Kilby goalkeeper has already proved to be worth his weight in gold.

Matt McGinley and Jacob Kean have been long-time servants to the club and have both made valuable contributions over the last few years in that position, but the experience and quality Martin brings is a big step up and he will prove crucial to EK’s hopes of retaining the title.

Keeping goals out can be just as crucial as scoring and last Wednesday night Martin made a stunning late save from the penalty spot that prevented Dalbeattie Star from potentially taking a point off the defending champions.

Make no mistake about it, a draw at Islecroft would have been nothing short of a disaster.

Failing to win against a side tipped to be battling the drop and thrashed 8-0 by EK’s title rivals Kelty the previous week, would have set alarm bells ringing.

Martin though – as he did in the Betfred Cup against St Mirren – showed his quality and EK went on to seal a 2-0 win. It won’t be the last time we see him make a vital stop this season.

Read More

Related Articles

McNeil to break EK resistance?

East Kilbride have opened the season with two clean sheets and are the only team in the league yet to concede.

However, former striker Ross McNeil visits K-Park this weekend with Caledonian Braves and you can bet he’ll be determined to bag a goal against his old club.

McNeil made 18 league appearances – 13 of them from the bench – for EK last season and was deemed surplus to requirements in the summer, so there’s the chance to show Stuart Malcolm that he should have kept him on.

McNeil has netted four goals in three games for the Braves and got their only goal in last week's 4-1 defeat to Kelty Hearts.